Corporate Travel News For South Pacific

VietJet Air announced (01-May-2023) plans to increase Ho Chi Minh City-Sydney frequency from three to four times weekly from 18-Sep-2023. [more - original PR]

Asiana Airlines, via its official online booking system, confirmed (May-2023) plans to increase Seoul Incheon-Sydney frequency from daily to nine times weekly, commencing 08-Aug-2023. Korean Air, T'way Air, Qantas Airways and Jetstar Airways also operate the route, according to OAG.

American Airlines, via its official website, announced (Apr-2023) plans to resume daily Los Angeles-Auckland service from 21-Dec-2023. Frequency will reduce to three times weekly effective 15-Feb-2024. The carrier also operates a service from Dallas Fort Worth to Auckland, according to OAG.

Beijing Capital Airlines, via its official WeChat account, announced (23-Apr-2023) the resumption of twice weekly Qingdao-Sydney service with A330 equipment on 23-Apr-2023. The carrier also previously resumed Qingdao-Melbourne service in 2023.

Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport reported (20-Apr-2023) the following traffic highlights for Mar-2023:

• Passengers: 3.2 million, -13.3% compared to Mar-2019;
  • Domestic: 2.1 million, -10.8%;
  • International: 1.1 million, -17.7%;
• Top 10 nationalities travelling through Sydney Airport for Mar-2023:
  
  • Australia: -9.2% compared to Mar-2019;
  • US: -29.8%;
  • New Zealand: -17.7%;
  • UK: -12.6%;
  • China: -60.4%;
  • India: +9.5%;
  • South Korea: -14.7%;
  • Japan: -40.0%;
  • Canada: -15.9%;
  • Philippines: +16.7%. [more - original PR]

Air New Zealand announced (18-APr-2023) plans to make some changes to its summer 2023 schedule for travel between 19-Jun-2023 and 28-Oct-2023. The carrier said the changes will be progressively rolled out to GDS over the next 14 days, and PNRs will be updated with a TK/UN status. [more - original PR]

Plaza Premium Group opened (18-Apr-2023) a Plaza Premium Lounge in international departures at Adelaide Airport, the company's first presence in Adelaide. The 532sqm lounge can cater up to 137 passengers and features no single-use plastics, 100% LED lighting, energy efficient appliances and water saving devices. The location is the group's fourth in Australia. [more - original PR]

United Airlines announced (18-Apr-2023) plans to deploy Boeing 777-300ER equipment on daily San Francisco-Melbourne Tullamarine service from 28-Oct-2023. The upgauge is set to add almost 100 daily seats and increase United's offering to Melbourne by 65% compared to winter 2019. According to OAG, the service was previously operated using 257 seat Boeing 787-9 equipment. No other carriers are scheduled to operate the route. [more - original PR]

United Airlines announced (18-Apr-2023) the following planned frequency adjustments effective 28-Oct-2023:

• San Francisco-Brisbane: Increase from three times weekly to daily;
• San Francisco-Sydney: Increase from daily to twice daily.

The Brisbane frequency increase will enable United to transport almost triple the number of passengers from the US to Brisbane compared to 2022. United is also set to operate more flights to Sydney from the US than any other carrier. According to OAG, Qantas Airways is also scheduled to operate the San Francisco-Sydney route. [more - original PR]

United Airlines announced (18-Apr-2023) plans to launch three times weekly San Francisco-Christchurch service from 01-Dec-2023. The service will be operated using Boeing 787-8 equipment and falls under the carrier's broader expansion efforts in New Zealand. United is set to increase its winter 2023/24 New Zealand network by 70% compared to 2019 levels. Christchurch Airport CEO Justin Watson stated the service will "supercharge" tourism value to New Zealand, citing data showing American tourists who enter the country via Christchurch spend 42% more and stay 33% longer. According to OAG, no other carriers are scheduled to operate the route. [more - original PR - I] [more - original PR - II]